In today’s blog, my wife Liz is our guest writer.
There is a House–Psalm 27
There is a house, which supplies surprising interventions. Israel’s most famous king and psalmist, David spoke of this house. He wrote, “One thing I have desired from the Lord, that I will seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life” (Psalm 27:4). The God of the universe dwells in His house.
The God of this house has a lot of free time to spend with us. It’s as if He is just waiting to open the front door for us when we knock, to welcome us in, show us a comfortable seat, pour us our favorite drink, listen to our unfiltered (and sometimes crazy) thoughts, and then offer a palatable dose of His own infallible wisdom. These are the surprising interventions.
A Hiding Place
David claimed this house was a hiding place for him, a secret place, a place where he could see new horizons (Psalm 27:5). He said the experience of being in the house of the Lord would lift him above his many enemies, and that eventually this lifting would cause him to break out with exuberant, joyful songs (Psalm 27:6).
He also said that in this house he could fully detox from the condemnation that he had allowed others to smear over him and then get all washed up with mercy (Psalm 27:7). He confided that sometimes the grief and condemnation came from his own family members! But the dark cocoon of family hurt would only give way to supernatural nurture (Psalm 27:10).
A GPS for Life
David boasted that this house supplied the best GPS for his life–beyond his expectations. He found that those who would intentionally oppose him would try to make his daily journey very crooked and harmful through their words and actions. He found that others in his life would unknowingly and carelessly put-up roadblocks which hindered him. When David could escape from his own confusing house and get into that refuge house with the Lord, he would be able to hear wisdom, which would enable him to make course corrections for the day and avoid exhausting, dangerous detours (Psalm 27:11-13).
Yesterday, at about 7:00 a.m., I stumbled into that same house, which David frequented about three thousand years ago. Steve and I had already been awake for three hours, because of an untimely, noisy, flooding, and plumbing episode, occurring at 4 a.m. So fun. I had a full day ahead of me, punctuated by a dinner I was hosting for sixteen people at my house. I was already exhausted before the sun rose.
Despite my grogginess, I knew it would be wise for me to show up at the house of surprising interventions, no matter how inconvenient it felt. I struggled to keep my eyes open to read Mark 14-16. My sleepy eyes crawled through that exercise.
Then, I found myself sitting on the floor, staring out the window at some lovely, towering pines. I grouchily blurted out to the Lord of this house, (Maker of the pine trees), “How come You are not answering the prayers I have been faithfully praying for? I want to know why.”
No Traction to My Prayers
David said that when he would visit this special house, He would pay great attention to the beauty of His Lord (Psalm 27:4). As I was in no mood for beauty yesterday–just wanting to survive–I went right to inquiring (and complaining). I wanted to know why there was no traction on these prayers I had been praying (and sometimes fasting) for over the last few weeks. I let the Lord know I was frustrated and disappointed. What a crabby guest!
Surprisingly, I heard back from the Lord within minutes about my unanswered prayers. He told me very sweetly that He is not only concerned about answering my prayers, but He wants to carry out unique purposes for me and others that take time. “In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will” (Ephesians 1:11). He reassuringly told me to stop worrying about the non-answers and to keep praying with expectation. What a Gracious Host!
The Gracious Host also said that He would help me in my upcoming hosting role that evening. He gave me strategies to accomplish a lot of household tasks in a short amount of time with little energy. He gave me some ideas of how to make my guests feel honored, which I wanted to do but didn’t know how. WOW! Surprising interventions! (And there were even more yesterday than I have time to recount!)
I concur with David, as he penned the end of this psalm,
“Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14).
Liz Holt